Bears Moving|Waco TX Moving Services (254) 644-7777

We offer a full line of moving services that are sure to fit your needs. We strive to provide you a worry free move from start to finish. Whether you are moving to Waco or from Waco we would like to be our moving experts.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

At Bears Moving, We pride ourselves on our ability to take all of the worry out of your move. It is important to start early and be as organized as possible to make your move a breeze. There are some good tips here about organization, labeling, cutting costs on your move, and much more. We hope that you can find some useful information here. For a great Waco Moving Service please give us a call at 254-644-7777

Friday, July 1, 2016

This article is brought to you by Bears Moving who offers a full link of Waco, TX moving services for those who are moving to Waco, from Waco, or even local moves. Call Bears Moving at (254) 644-7777.
We like this article because it really breaks down the options that you have for your move and includes the pros and the cons of each. Remember if you decide for a worry free move to give us a call right away.

When moving houses, the average household relocates 7,400 pounds — nearly four tons — of stuff, and an eight-room home uses 100 boxes in the process. The average interstate move costs about $4,300, while staying in-state costs about $2,300. All these stats add up to one massive undertaking. Read our guide for advice on cutting it down to size.

Should You DIY Your Move?

Moving yourself will most certainly cost less than hiring a moving company, but before you go it alone, consider:

How big the move is. Taking a teen off to college or even moving into a first or second apartment is a much different experience than moving into a four-bedroom house or downsizing to a retirement condo. Outline exactly what will be involved, in terms of quantity and size of belongings and furnishings to determine how much and what kind of help you'll need.
Your and your helpers' stamina. Moving is exhausting, both mentally and physically. Are everyone's back/knees/stress-coping skills up to it?
It will cost more than you think. Factor in: the cost of supplies (boxes, tape, markers, bubble wrap, rope), gas and tolls (moving trucks get less than 10 miles to the gallon and cost more at the tollbooth), equipment rentals (hand trucks and furniture pads aren't usually included), buying your helpers lunch/dinner and beverages, and on-the-road costs (hotels, meals) if your move will take overnight or longer.

How to Hire Movers

Keep in mind these tips to save a little cash:

Mind your timing. Moving company rates are higher at the beginning and end of the month, when most leases are up, and on weekends. If you can take a day or two off midweek or midmonth, your wallet will benefit.
Do some of the work yourself. Pack your own boxes, or even just get things inside more mover-friendly (unplug appliances, roll up rugs, disassemble anything you can) shaves off time and therefore saves you on the hourly rate.
Consider going halvsies. Hire movers (or local college/high school students) on either end to help you load and unload the rental truck. Or for a long-distance move, consider "self-service movers" who drop off a truck for you to load, then drive the truck to your new home for you to unload.
If you hire anyone, you want them to be reliable and careful — and not overcharge you. Get detailed written estimates from at least three movers, and have them do an in-home inspection instead of estimating by phone or email.
Do your homework. Moving companies are among the most complained-about businesses in the U.S. Get references, and look for complaints and reviews at the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and movinghelp.com.

Lighten Your Load

A long-distance move is usually priced by volume (how much space in a truck the stuff takes up) and weight, and a local move by volume (size of truck needed) and time (local movers usually charge an hourly rate). What this means: Don't move stuff you don't need.

Weed out items to sell, donate, or throw out. Be ruthless — moving is a chore, but it's also a chance to make a clean start. As you go through your things to fill boxes, make piles or fill trashbags with what you really don't need. It may even be worth renting a dumpster (especially if the move is to a smaller space). Bonus: Unloading unneeded furniture on Craig's List, having a yard sale, or making a tax deduction on donated goods can help you recoup some expenses.
Use it or lose it. Items that are not worth the cost of packing and moving: Pantry foods (eat what you can, and donate what's unopened to a soup kitchen), cleaning supplies (also can be donated, or given to a neighbor), open condiment bottles (dump 'em), stacks of old magazines (clip the articles you love and recycle the rest), and partly used paints, propane tanks, or solvents (they could be dangerous, especially if they spill; donate or recycle properly).

Next:

Save on Moving Supplies

Collect free boxes from the local liquor store or grocery store — liquor boxes are particularly good, because they are often a good-quality cardboard, and are uniformly sized and not too big, so you're unlikely to load them so heavily that they're a strain to carry. Printer-paper boxes from an office or school are good, too.
Check online, on Craigslist for "curb alerts" of people giving away their packing boxes. You may also have some luck getting giveaway ones on freecycle.com.
Consider reusables. A few companies rent or sell reused cardboard and reusable plastic boxes. Check out usedcardboardboxes.com or zippgo.com or rentagreenbox.com.
Visit a home-improvement store. Home Depot and Lowe's both offer reasonably priced moving supplies, as well as online checklists and other useful tools to help get you organized.

Box-Labeling Lesson

Mark boxes on the top and on the side (so if one is covered, you can hopefully spot the other) with a short summary of contents (kids' books) and where they should go (playroom).
Stack filled boxes that go to the same room together, so they go out to the truck at the same time, and are (hopefully) loaded at the same time.
Use the app for that. Moving Van is an iPhone app ($1.99) that lets you snap photos of the contents of boxes, quickly catalog them, and assign each box a name or number. Then, when you're unpacking everything (which isn't always a super-fast process), and you need to find a specific item that isn't unpacked yet, you can simply search for it on your app and immediately ID the box you need to look in.

Packing the Moving Truck

If loading it up yourself or supervising movers, keep in mind these rules of thumb.

When reserving a rental, follow the trucking companies' size suggestions — but if in doubt, go bigger (you don't want to have to make two trips).
Make of list of what you intend to move — and think about what you'll put in first (see below). It's no fun to have to take things out once you've put them in, if you decide too late that they're in the wrong spot.
Know your packing order. First, load the biggest, heaviest stuff such as furniture and appliances (and don't assume things need to load as they normally sit — sofas, for instance, take up much less space if flipped up on one end). Then, add the heavier boxes. Next go lighter items (furniture like chairs). On the very top, add the glassware and other breakables. Put your best puzzle-solver inside the truck to decide where stuff goes.
Boxes and items should be packed tightly together so they won't move, and furniture should be wrapped in pads or blankets. Rope things to the walls of the truck to discourage sliding, and if the truck won't be filled to the brim, keep the top surface level so nothing will topple down. A good last add is a mattress, which you can rope tightly into the end as an extra pad if items slosh back.

Do You Need Extra Insurance to Cover the Move?

Your regular homeowners' and/or car insurance may cover a move but ask — if not (and even if so), it may be worth the peace of mind to purchase extra, from the truck rental agency or on your existing insurance plans.

Monday, June 27, 2016

At ﻿Bears Moving﻿ we completely realize how hard moving can be. With your already big schedule, sometimes its very hard to try to pack, organize, and move everything just to do the opposite at the next place. If you need a Waco Mover call us at (254) 644-7777. I hope you enjoy these moving lessons that we found on apartmenttherapy.com.

Although you end up in a fresh new space at the end, there's really no getting around it: Moving sucks. Sometimes moving means making mistakes and learning lessons. Save yourself the future trouble by reading about these mistakes so you don't have to learn these hard lessons yourself!
1. It always costs more than you expect

It's not just deposits that cost money — from moving boxes to bubble wrap to cleaning supplies and more — it can sometimes feel like you're hemorrhaging money in the first few days before and after a move. So consider creating a "what you'll need" kit before you even pack a box that includes small things — cleaning supplies (that you can pack from your old place), paper towels, old wash rags, furniture sliders, and other handy things. Having this done ahead of time will save you from those last minute "just buy the first thing you find" shopping trips. To complete your kit, ask a seasoned just-moved friend or think back to your last move and try to remember all the stuff you ended up having to buy last minute (hello shower curtain liner and bathroom trash can, always).
2. It's gonna take you longer to clean and move the last bits than it did moving all the rest of your stuff combined

Or at least it's sure going to feel like it. At the end it always feels like I have a bunch of small things that end up taking me 20 trips to get into the moving van. Cut that out by simply taking the effort to bag or box these smaller things. Cleaning can be cut down by cleaning room by room the month or so before you move — so that come moving day you're only having to clean those hard-to-get spots and giving the rest of the space a fresh swipe.
3. Don't pack "tired-of-moving" mystery boxes —they'll stay packed for months

All that small stuff we mentioned early? Don't box it all up randomly in boxes that are the equivalent of a mobile junk drawer. It'll be harder to unpack when you get to the new place because you won't quite know what area the stuff goes in and it'll always feel like an overwhelming task knowing you're going to have to find homes for it. Pack your stuff into boxes that go with certain rooms and areas so you can make getting it into new homes much easier.
4. Renter's remorse is real and can sometimes ruin the first few days of a new place...if you let it

Any big life decision can come with doubt and insecurity when the realness of the situation really sinks in. Sometimes things you didn't notice can come to the surface —making you regret moving in the first place. "Was that street noise that loud when I saw the place?" "I don't remember there being so many stairs!" Don't let these last-minute regrets make you question your decision to choose the new home you're now filling with your stuff. Simply recognize these unpleasant and unwanted thoughts for what they are (temporary nervous worries) and refocus your thoughts on something you love about your new place. Renter's remorse will be gone before you know it.

What moving lessons have you learned the hard way? Share your cautionary tales to help others in future moves.

This youtube video has some unique ideas for packing that might make your move easier. If you are moving to Waco or if you just need local Waco TX moving services give Bears Moving a call ASAP at (254) 644-7777.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Call it a guide or a checklist but here’s everything you need to know to pack for your next move.
Must-Have Packing Supplies

You may be tempted to buy a bunch small, medium and large boxes and call it a day, and while you should buy those, there are other moving supplies that will make protecting your stuff easier.

Boxes – All sizes.
Tape – I recommend paper tape to save time.
Marker – Label your boxes
Wardrobe boxes – These will help you pack your closet in no time.
TV box kit – Flat screens are expensive, so protect yours.
Mattress bags – Seriously, these will save your bed from getting damaged.
Stretch wrap – This can be used 101 ways.
Dish saver kit – Name says it all.
Glass saver kit – Again, name says it all.
Cell kit – Use this to keep small things from rolling in a box.
Packing paper – Use this to wrap fragile items and to prevent things from shifting in a box.
Bubble roll – Wrap fragile things, then pop it for fun.
Moving pads – Wrap appliances and use as cushion when loading a truck.
Dolly – Do yourself a favor and don’t carry heavy things without these.
Box-cutter – For easy unpacking.

Keep in mind that the right quantity of supplies will depend on the size of your living space and how much stuff you own. If you need help deciding, check out this moving supply calculator to get an estimate.

Also too many supplies is better than not enough. If you buy them at U-Haul, they will buy-back any unused supplies, so it’s not a waste of your money.
Packing the Bedrooms

Likely you have beds, dressers, vanities, closets and much more. Start where you want, but here are the main tips:

Use a large box to pack sheets, bedding and other linens.
Use a mattress bag on both the mattress and box spring.
Break apart your bed frame if possible.
Remove the drawers from your dresser.
Leave the your things in the drawers and use stretch wrap all around to seal these.
Use stretch wrap around small dressers or vanity to prevent drawers from opening.
Use wardrobe boxes to quickly pack hanging clothes.
Use sandwich bags to pack small items like jewelry.
Wrap frames and other fragile things in bubble or packing paper.
Pack the flat screen in a TV box.
Put your laptop in a protective case and not in a box.

Packing the Bathrooms

Remove the lids from bottles and put stretch wrap over the top, then screw the cap back on.
Put all the small bits in clear bags.
Put towels in large boxes.
Wrap any decorative/fragile things in packing paper.
Use stretch wrap to keep loose items like makeup in their containers.
Store cleaning supplies in a box with a cell kit to keep them organized and secure.

If anything is sensitive to changes in temperature, plan accordingly.
Packing the Kitchen

As you pack your kitchen, know that you should stop buying perishable food a week or two prior to the move to avoid moving these.

Use a dish saver kit for your dishes.
Use a glass saver kit for other breakables.
Put things from your pantry in a box with a cell kit to keep them from breaking.
Use stretch wrap to seal silverware into its container.
Use the bubble roll to wrap small kitchen appliances.
Use a furniture pad and dolly to protect and move large kitchen appliances.
If possible, disassemble your dining room furniture for its protection and easier moving.
Wrap the pieces with moving pads and secure the small pits in a bag taped to the piece of furniture.

Packing the Living Room

Again, pack that TV in a flat screen box kit to keep it safe.
Use bubble roll on small electronic devices.
Put games and movies in small boxes.
Disassemble pieces of furniture and wrap these with pads for protection.
Use a furniture dolly to move couches.
Use stretch wrap to secure rolled up rugs.

Packing the Garage

Before you start packing this room, it might be a good idea to set out a donate and trash box to rid yourself of things you may have accumulated and no longer want or need.

For the 101st time, use stretch wrap to seal the tool box – don’t box this item.
Drain gas and other fluids from power tools before packing.
Wrap sharp tools in moving pads to protect yourself and other things.
Place hand tools in the original box if you still have it.

General Packing Tips

Start packing the things/rooms you use least.
Pack a room at time and don’t mix rooms in the same box.
Pack heavy items in small boxes.
Pack a “Open First” box and load it last onto the truck.
Keep medication or anything you need to use throughout moving day in the cab of the truck.
Don’t use duct-tape to seal boxes.
Take apart furniture and save all small bits in a bag taped to the piece of furniture.
Pack heavier items at the bottom of the boxes.

Monday, June 13, 2016

This great article on packing tips is brought to you by Bears Moving. If you are looking for one of the most trusted and reliable moving companies in Waco, TX then give us a call at (254) 644-7777.

You’re ready to make a move, but your stuff is staring you in the face, silently mocking you. Packing up all your belongings is a daunting task, but there are many ways to make packing easier. These seven easy tips will get you ready to pack with a vengeance.

Packing Tip #1: Don’t procrastinate. This seems simple enough, but getting started can be difficult. A few weeks prior to your move, start packing several boxes a day. Begin with items that are least essential to your daily life. If you pace yourself, you will be more organized and the job won’t be so overwhelming. Make packing easier by not waiting to get started.

Packing Tip #2: Pack room-by-room. Focus on one area of a room at a time and don’t mix items from different rooms in one box. To prevent miniature knickknacks and small items from being lost or mistakenly thrown out with the packing paper, wrap them in brightly-colored tissue paper.

Packing Tip #3: Label clearly. On the top and side of each box, write a general description of the contents and the room name. Use different colored markers for each room, which will provide additional clarity for you and your movers.

Packing Tip #5: Use boxes designed for moving. Boxes obtained from grocery or liquor stores are not always clean and might not hold the weight of the items that you will be putting in them. In addition, varying box sizes can make loading more difficult.

Packing Tip #6: Know what you can’t pack. Some common household items can’t be shipped because they are hazardous. Don’t wind up on the wrong side of the law. Read our list of what you can’t put on the moving truck.

Packing Tip #7: Don’t box up everything. You should personally transport heirlooms, important papers, legal documents (wills, passports. etc.), and valuables. Make packing easier by decided what doesn’t need to be packed.

About Me

I own a small business called Bears Moving based out of Waco, TX. No matter whether you are moving to Waco or from Waco or even just somewhere local we would love to help you. We offer moving services in Waco, TX and the surrounding areas. Call Us the next time that you need a Waco TX Moving company (254) 644-7777